Representation of women in regional parliaments: testing the model of traditional gender roles

Abstract

The reasons for the limited women’s representation in the parliaments of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation are studied. Statistics show that in some Russian regions the proportion of women deputies in regional assemblies is higher than in the others. The classical point of view states that women’s participation in politics as people’s representatives is determined by gender norms and roles. Assessments of the influence of traditional gender roles were carried out based on Russian statistics. Information on the subjects of the Russian Federation was used in analysis. The regression analysis (step-by-step regression method) was used as a research method. The theoretical and methodological basis of the work is the theory of gender roles by A. Eagly. The conducted research refutes the formulated hypothesis. Traditional gender views have at most indirect influence on the parliamentary representation of women, mediated by the procedure of selection of candidates by political parties and civil society organizations. Provisions of the “resource” model of women’s political activism also weren’t confirmed. It is shown that the share of women deputies in the legislatures of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation which use the system of party lists during the election is less than in regional legislative bodies formed according to the majority or mixed electoral system.